US Experts see chance for stability in Iraq

[FVZA_Colonel]

Source: Rueters

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The sharp drop in violence that has accompanied the U.S. troop buildup in Iraq has given the war-torn country a rare opportunity for stability, analysts said on Wednesday.

The panel of independent experts on Iraq told a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee that the fragile successes of recent months in Iraq could easily unwind if the United States is unwilling to maintain a large troop presence in the Gulf region for years to come.

"We may have an opportunity in Iraq that has not been available since 2003 to stabilize the country and avert the downside risks of failure," Stephen Biddle of the Council on Foreign relations told the House Armed Services hearing.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080124/ts_nm/usa_iraq_stability_dc

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"While the U.S. presence may have stoked insurgent violence in Iraq between 2003 and 2006, the U.S. is, for now, a force for stability," said Michael Eisenstadt of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.


Citing a member of a right-wing think tank, wonderful.

[arewenotdemo]

1. "the U.S. is, for now, a force for stability"

Bull...fucking...shit.

[FVZA_Colonel]

2. The only reason we even appear to be

is because we bought off so many people in al-Anbar and elsewhere. When that money dries up... what will happen?

[TwilightGardener]

4. I think they're projecting having close to 200,000 officially on the

$300-a-month payment plan. But I'll bet we're handing out FAR more cash (read: bribes) than that, especially to top tribal and militia leaders.

[TwilightGardener]

3. So, the fragile drop in violence will only hold if we stay FOREVER, risking

American blood, straining our military and their families, and bankrupting our country. Wow, that Surge was sure worth it, huh?

[grytpype]

5. Bush screwed us pretty good, didn't he?

We're stuck there. We're the only thing that keeping the place from going completely to Hell.

[Voltaire99]

13. Hillary screwed us, too: she voted for it and paid for it with our money. (nt)

[bemildred]

6. Oooooh, a "panel of independent experts on Iraq".

It's almost like a commercial for laundry detergent.

[wtmusic]

7. "Independent" WINEP boardmembers:

Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Alexander Haig, Max Kampelman, Samuel W. Lewis, Robert McFarlane, Martin Peretz, Richard Perle, James Roche, Cheryl Halpern, George P. Shultz, R. James Woolsey

Biddle is an Army War College analyst who never lifted a weapon in his life.

How predictable.

[FVZA_Colonel]

8. The fact that Richard Perle alone is a senior member there

speaks to the organization's overall credibility.

[Binka]

10. Oh Good Fucking God

Perle? :wtf: Give this news a rest.

[DCKit]

9. Probably commissioned and funded by AIPAC too.

How much more independent than that can you get?

Of course the MSM will report this faithfully, verbatim.

[wtmusic]

16. Not only funded but founded by AIPAC

"It was founded in 1985 by Martin Indyk, a research director for AIPAC who would later be appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Institute_for_Near_East_Policy

[Le Taz Hot]

18. Oh, Christ!

Shultz? Perle? Alexander, "I-am-in-charge" Haig? Oh yeah, that's independent. :sarcasm:

[Afje]

11. Gee, a panel of "experts" and just

in time for elections.

[tom_paine]

12. Oh, how the Sciene of Lying has been perfected here in Imperial Amerika

We have no defenses against it, our MSM is almost completely in the camp of the Liars, and at it's very best, is a weak-kneed medium to launder outright lies as confusing he-said/she-said.

Old America is dying or dead now. It cannot be resuscitated. Know why? Because these lies will WORK, just as all the others have. Debunkers and truthtellers need not apply and will not be given microphones from which to speak truth to power. Only toadies and frightened unAmericans get microphones, with rare exceptions like KO.

[IsItJustMe]

14. How many times before have we heard this BS? Our corps and msm sure want this war to continue.

I guess they will continue their perception management campaign until this country of ours is totally bankrupt.

[LynnTheDem]

15. There's only one little problem...

There is no "sharp drop in violence".

Ok two little problems; are we to remain occupiers of Iraq forever until we're fully bled dry?

[wtmusic]

17. It will probably take 10-15 years of IEDs blowing up fresh-faced kids

until the idiots in charge get the message. Just like last time!